The close of a game often signals the opening of a beer. Teams – professional, college and backyard – traditionally follow competitive matches with cool glasses of malted barley and hops.  What better way could there be to celebrate a victory or mourn a loss? Nothing, after all, satisfies a well-worn athlete like a seasonal ale or traditional brew. And in the eyes of the players, it’s an earned indulgence, one they truly deserve. That claim may be a bit exaggerated, but regardless, the players should continue sipping their pints, for, according to Spanish researchers, beer may be better than water.

Scientists at Granada University recently announced the results of their beer-vs.-water study. They had, over several months, recruited 25 students to run on a treadmill in 104-degree heat. The participants exercised until near-exhaustion, at which point they were given either a pint of beer or water. Those who received beer were slightly more hydrated than those who drank only water.   It’s theorized that the bubbles, sugar and carbohydrates in the beer allowed the body to absorb the liquid more quickly, and the lower alcohol content (in comparison to liquors) kept the malted beverage from acting as a diuretic. Thus, the beer surpassed the water. But does this mean you should trade in your water bottle for a Coors?

No. Water is and always will be the best way to hydrate,  unless you have strenuously exercised for more than an hour (as the participants of the study had). In that case, you want something with a little more substance, like a sports drink.  The added sugar and electrolytes in a sports drink will restore your body’s energy, and the salt content will compensate for lost sodium. But just because beer’s not the best doesn’t mean you should ignore the findings. They do have something to offer: comfort. They’re telling you that it’s okay and somewhat beneficial to follow a taxing workout with a glass of beer, one of your most loved yet previously frowned upon habits. So, go ahead and crack open a can . . . just jog a few miles first.

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Traditionally, we associated steroid use with athletes – homerun “heroes”, pro wrestlers and high school hopefuls. Taking them was thought of as an illegal and frowned-upon but all too present and permanent practice in sports. Unfortunately, the end of a two-year investigation in late September changed that thought, expanding it to include, well, everyone. In a bust that closed down 56 steroid labs, seized 533 pounds of steroid powder and arrested more than 120 people, the truth about anabolic steroids was told. Everyone from personal trainers to firefighters to average Joes were ordering steroids. As long as they had a credit card and an address, nothing was stopping them.  And that was troubling, for so many reasons.

Anabolic steroids are often prescribed by doctors to treat testosterone deficiency , certain forms of anemia and decreased muscle mass due to AIDS or a similar serious condition. Those are the only occasions when it is legal, but they aren’t the only times it happens. Men and women ingest anabolic steroids illegally, hoping to build muscles, all the time. They generally succeed, but only after they’ve risked their health and faced numerous side effects. Steroid use can lead to liver and heart damage, poor cholesterol levels, depression, rage, violence and drug dependence. In men, it can stimulate baldness and breast growth, shrink testicles, create a higher voice and cause infertility. Women face, essentially, the opposite: more body hair and appetite, an enlarged clitoris and a deeper voice. In the end, steroid users may have more muscle, but they also have a host of abnormalities and health risks that could cut their “strong” life short.  Does that mean, then, that you should beat down your bodybuilding urges? Continue Reading >>

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If you exercise regularly and particularly if you are a long-distance athlete, you understand the importance of water consumption. Becoming dehydrated will end your workout immediately and potentially make you seriously ill. But, water isn’t the only substance you need when exercising. To maintain endurance and stay active and alert, you need energy, in the form of carbohydrates. You can get this in any number of ways, such as sports drinks or power bars. However, those both have their inconveniences, so you might want to consider, instead, energy gels.

Energy gels are exactly what they sound like: a gelatinous mixture of complex and simple carbohydrates, designed to keep you going during your workout. They pack more punch per ounce than a sports drink and are considerably less bulky than the beverage bottles. They are also more easily absorbed than solid foods, giving them a one up on bars. GU Energy Gels, specifically, are made with maltodexrin, the complex carbohydrate most adept at delivering energy to your working muscles. So, the next time you have a marathon to run, a race to bike or a workout to endure, don’t forget your energy gel. It, with water, will provide you with the physical and mental alertness you need. But which taste best? Continue Reading >>

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My younger cousin recently questioned why he couldn’t put on weight? He claimed he wanted to be able to bulk up 15 to 20 lbs by the time his high schools spring baseball season got underway. He said he’d been lifting weights and eating his peas and carrots. I laughed and told him that the weight lifting and veggie consumption was great but putting on that amount of weight in a few months takes some serious dedication and perhaps some protein supplementation.

Back when I was in high school and attempting to bulk up to get noticed by Emily Madison in my chemistry class I struggled to pack on the pounds. But that was prior to advances in modern science. I’ve found that supplementing your meals and weight lifting sessions with protein shakes is a great way to pack on the pounds.

The days of choking down 5 eggs are OVER! There are a number of products out there which contain 15 to 56 grams of protein, and the best part is they taste good. If you keep to your normal eating and weight lifting habits and can supplement your meals with 50 to 100 grams of additional protein, then you’ll be in great shape. Your body will react as though you’ve just eaten five full meals as opposed to the standard three.

By the time baseball season comes into full swing you’ll turn riding the pine into a fulltime spot in the infield. And if the rest of your game is as savvy as your nutritional habits we may be talking about rounding the base pads in a more figurative sense. If you get my drift….

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Wondering why your whey protein prices are going up? Well it’s linked to the same rise in milk prices. Whey is derived from high quality proteins found in milk. Across the globe, dairy prices are rising at extraordinarily fast rates. With growing demand in foreign countries and diminishing supplies here in the U.S., prices don’t look to be coming down anytime soon.

When it comes to dairy farming, its tricky business, and it becomes even more so when meat production offers one of the biggest pay returns. Sending dairy cows to slaughter for profit has helped increase the shortage of dairy products, along with the further decrease in availability of new dairy cows, brought on by the scare several years ago with the import of Canadian cows contaminated with mad cow disease. With dairy cattle falling short of the overabundance found in previous years, the use of hormones to increase milk production makes more sense for producers, but that’s also where many consumers are steering clear and buying organic. So when can we expect to see prices fall?

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I’m sure your mother always told you if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. But come on. Be realistic. Sometimes the best information is acquired through things you probably shouldn’t have said, or heard. Like for instance, those huge muscle bound guys at the gym. Come on…I know you have an opinion. Maybe you laugh, maybe you role your eyes, or maybe you even envy their dedication to working out and building muscle. Yet, no matter what your personal opinion of these bodybuilders, there is at least one thing that always springs to my mind. How did they build all that muscle, and is it healthy?

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I’m too busy.  I’m too out of shape.  I don’t like going alone.  All of these are great excuses not to hit the gym.  But aren’t you tired of excuses?  It would be great if we could all take a pill that would provide all of the benefits of working out without the actual work, but it’s not feasible.  Not to mention you would miss out on the endorphin induced high achieved from a great round of exercise. 

In a March 2006 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, research is sited boasting “incontrovertible evidence” that physical activity helps to ward off illness and disease that often leads to early death.  With this evidence, who can really afford not to put exercise on their list of priorities?  Physical activity doesn’t need to be difficult to achieve.  A brisk walk can get your heart rate up.  A few simple sets of reps with some free weights can boost muscle strength.  But the best way to stick to a workout routine is to find something that you can enjoy, that also provides health benefits. 

Why not join your local YMCA.  It’s affordable, convenient, and provides numerous ways to switch up your ho-hum workout routine.  There are classes for all different levels of fitness and ranges of age.  You can meet new people while doing something that you enjoy.  Swim, lift weights, use an elliptical, practice yoga or power lifting.  Whatever you desire, you can more often than not find it wrapped in one neat little gym package.  Go it alone for some much needed personal rejuvenation or join with a group of friends or family.  Most importantly, get out there and shake up your health.  The best thing about the Y, aside from affordability, is the diverse nature.  There are people from every age range and every level of fitness all joined together with one common theme: fitness for life and for health.  Check out your local YMCA today.

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You’re a junkie.  You crave it.  You take ten miles jogs just to hit the wall.  You seek what is commonly referred to as the “runners high.” But don’t worry.  You’re not alone.  Support groups run rampant in the form of runners clubs, annual marathons, 5K fundraisers and beginner runner programs.  Yet, there are some people that might discourage your addiction.  And it comes from a surprising place.   Your doctor’s office.

Your doctor encourages a healthy diet and regular exercise.  So why the long face over running?  The answer lies at the core of the “runners high.”  Joints.  Running is a relatively high impact sport that can place a tremendous amount of stress on joints from the knees down to the toes.  If you show up to the doctors office with pain in your knee, shin splints and various other symptoms of strain on your legs, it is very likely that your doctor will recommend replacing your running with a more low impact form of exercise. 

When faced with this news, a majority of runners see this as no solution.  Running is essential to their lives.  They continue through the pain.  Fortunately, there are new ways to avoid the stress that running has been known to cause on certain parts of the body.  The solution lies in the ancient practice of Tai Chi, brought overseas from China.  Focusing on alignment with the spine and strength derived from the core, this practice helps to minimize unnecessary impact on the body and its various joints and muscles.

Interested in Chi Running?  Its popularity and reputation is growing around the world.  You can purchase several books on the art of Chi Running/Walking or even watch DVD instructions on the practice of Tai Chi itself.  Learning how to align your body, breathe properly and concentrate on motion is sure to benefit your body, mind and spirit…and bring peace to both you and your doctor when it comes to your addiction.

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